about

Splendor in the ordinary is the theme in this work. Castles and cathedrals in France inspire meditations on the nature of life, the glory of Creation, family, the presence of God and the power of love.

Introduction –
In the Fall of 1987 I traveled to Europe for several weeks. Much of the inspiration for this album came from that trip which became a sort of "pilgrimage." These songs continue and, in some respects, complete many of the themes and ideas I have presented on my previous solo vocal albums. For me, these albums chronicle my own pilgrimage. Like looking through old photo albums, I listen to them from time to time and remember: where I have been, what I have seen, and most importantly, who I have met along the way. It is to those many "faces" of family and friends, both past and present, that Pilgrimage is dedicated. – Jeff Johnson

Music Review –

The lyrics are so literate and the music is so mesmerizing...the results are marvelous. – BQN / Harvest Rock Syndicate

'Either God is or he is not.' But to which view shall we be inclined? ... a coin is being spun which will come down heads or tails. How will you wager? – From "Pensées (#418)" by Blaise Pascal (1623 - 1662)

... they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout. – Matthew 25:5a - 6b (NAS)

Wake up, wake up the sleeper,
Look out into the night.
Get up, get up the dreamer,
The dancer is in sight tonight ... *

A Bow In The Clouds (All Through The Night)
By Jeff Johnson based on the Welsh lullaby.

Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.
– Ephesians 5:14b (NAS)

A child's lullaby is what I heard,
An echo through the chasm of my fear,
It lasted all through the night.

The melody descended on my heart,
With words so beautiful, I had to weep,
They lasted all through the night.

Soft and drowsy,
Hours are creeping,
Hill and dale in slumber sleeping.

I woke up feeling like I'd slept for years,
Remembering the vision that I saw,
There's a bow in the clouds today,
Oh Lord, what can I say?

I can sing you praise,
I will give you delight ...

A child's lullaby is what I hear,
An echo through the chasm of my fear,
All through the night.

The melody descends upon my heart,
With words so beautiful, I have to weep,
All through the night.

O'er thy spirit,
Gently stealing,
Visions of delight revealing.

They lasted through the night,
I dreamed that I was dancing on the clouds with you,
There's a bow in the clouds today,
Oh Lord, what can I say?

Track Name: All These Faces

All These Faces
By Jeff Johnson

Faces from the places of my life,
Leaving traces in the spaces of my mind.
All these faces from the places of my life,
They're leaving traces in the spaces of my mind.

And I sit here looking at the sky,
For a glimpse of your glory passing by,
But all I see ...

Up on the mountain tops of Switzerland,
Along the ocean shore of Oregon,
Looked in cathedrals and the colleges,
Looked everywhere, but I still see more,
In these faces ...

You never know until they're gone,
How much of God was written on,
That precious face you thought you knew.

Track Name: In This Between

In This Between
By Jeff Johnson

Hailey reaches out her hand and touches Susie's face,
Like spirit moving on the surface full of life and grace.
In between, an intersection forming in this place,
In between the glory and a fallen human race.

Shadows from the tree outside dance across the floor,
Moving like a shadow play right on through the door.
Wind and water, flesh and blood: spirit has no bounds,
Jesus reaches out his hand and writes upon this ground.

In this between,
All things are seen,
Spirit and flesh intersect.

Darkness and light,
Blindness and sight,
Spirit and flesh intersect.

I move in this flow,
I move in this flow.
I am what I know as I move in this flow.

Walking through Mont Saint Michel late one August night,
David keeps our pathway lit with his small flashlight.
Out across the dim horizon someone's headlights glow,
Like torches guiding pilgrim's feet centuries ago.

In this between,
All things are seen,
Spirit and flesh intersect.

Darkness and light,
Blindness and sight,
Spirit and flesh intersect.

Track Name: Lullaby

Lullaby
By Jeff Johnson

Stormy,
Wind and rain are dancing just outside the room.

Bedtime,
Sleepy eyes rock back and forth inside the room.

So how's a little girl like you supposed to go to sleep,
When your heart is being drawn to join the dance?

So I will sing this song for you as long as you can hear the wind,
Blowing through the tree and the sound of the rain falling down,
Falling down, its falling down, falling down ...